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CLASS  OF  1886;  PHD.  THE  JOHNS  HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY 

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AN  ADDRESS 


DELIVERED    IN 


ST.   JAMES'   CHURCH, 
WILMINGTON,  N.  C, 


AT    THE    INTERMENT    OP 


DR.  THOMAS  H.  WRIGHT, 

Monday,  September  23d,  1861, 


BY 


Rev.  ROBERT  B.  DRANE,  D.  D., 

RECTOR  OF  SAID  CHURCH. 


IPrinted.  at  the  Request  of  the  Family. 


^VIXi^EI^srC3-1702Sr,  IsT.  c, 

FULTON    &    PRICE,    STEAM    POWER    PRESS    PRINTERS. 

1861. 


AN   ADDRESS 


DELIVERED    IN 


ST.    JAMES'    CHURCH, 
WILMINGTON.  N.  C. 


AT    THE    INTERMENT    OF 


DR.  THOMAS  H.  WRIGHT, 


Monday,  September  23d,  1861, 


BY 


Rev.  ROBERT  B.  DRANE,  D.  D., 

RECTOR  OF  SAID  CHURCH. 


PRINTED  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  FAMILY. 


■vvriXj^ciisra-TOisr,  nsr.  c.7 

FULTON   &   PRICE,    STEAM   POWER   PRESS   PRINTERS. 

1861. 


TO  THE  MEMORY 

OF    AN    ENDEARED    FRIEND,    WHOSE    MEMORY 

WILL  NEVER  PASS  AWAY  FROM  THE  HEARTS  OF  THOSE  WHO  LOVED  HIM, 

THE    FOLLOWING    ADDRESS    IS    DEDICATED, 

ZB-5T    THE    ATJTHOE. 


ADDRESS. 


Christian  Friends  and  Brethren: 

The  dispensation  of  Providence  which  brings  us  here  to-day  is 
calculated  to  arouse  in  our  bosoms   emotions  of  no  ordinary  char- 
acter.    A  father  in  our  Israel  has  fallen.     We  behold  his  earthly 
tabernacle  before  us  in  ruins.     The  pure,  heaven-born  spirit,  which 
eo  lately  inhabited  it,  has  gone  to  Him  who  gave  it — has  gone  to 
his  Father  and  our  Father— to  Us  God  and  our  God,  in  whose  holy 
keeping  it  shall  remain,  in  a  state  of  separation  from  its  tenement 
of  clay,  till  the  heavens  be  no  more.     Hither  the  blessed  light  of 
the  Sun  of  Righteousness  enables  us,  with  the  eye  of  faith,  to  fol- 
low it  in  joy  and  triumph.     And  this  is  our  consolation  in  contem- 
plating the  exit  of  our  friends  from  this  scene  of  sorrow  and  sin — 
this  is  our  consolation,  that  the  soul,  on  its  departure  from  the  body, 
does  not  perish.     Death,  when  it  has  dissolved  the  union  between 
them,  and  mingled  the  body  with  the  dust,  has  done  all  that  is  in 
his  power.     The  soul,  secure  in  her  immortality,   and  shielded  by 
the  wing  of  Omnipotence,  bids  defiance  to  his  assaults.     No,  the 
soul  cannot  die.     Upon  its  every  power,  and  faculty,  and  affection, 
is  impressed  the  seal  of  eternity.     It  is  destined,  revelation  assures 
us,  by  the  decree  of  its  Maker,  to  exist  forever.     And  who  can 
resist  His  will  ?     Who  can  frustrate  His  purposes?     It  is  destined 
too,  we  are  assured,  upon  the  same  unquestionable  authority,  to  ex- 
ist forever,  on  being  suitably  prepared  for  it  here,  in  a  state  of  most 
exalted  bliss  and  glory ;  such  as  "eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard, 
nor  hath  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive."     Nor  is  this 


happiness  to  be  the  portion  of  the  soul  only.  The  body,  though 
now  embraced  by  corruption,  and  covered  by  dishonor,  shall  soon 
be  delivered  from  its  bondage,  put  on  glorious  apparel,  and,  re- 
united with  the  soul,  be  made  partaker  of  its  felicity  and  immor- 
tality. Yes,  brethren,  short  shall  be  the  triumph  of  death  even 
over  this  corruptible  body.  The  decree  has  gone  forth  from 
who  first  formed  it  from  nothing,  and  who  has  the  "keys  of  hell 
and  death,"  that  this  "corruption  must  put  on  incorruption,  and 
this  mortal  immortality."  "The  hour,"  he  proclaimeth,  "the 
hour  is  coming  in  the  which  all  that  are  in  their  graves  shall  hear 
the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  shall  come  forth,  they  that  have 
done  good,  unto  the  resurrection  of  life,  and  they  that  have  done 
evil,  unto  the  resurrection  of  damnation."  "  I  am  the  resurrection 
and  the  life,"  saith  the  Lord,  "  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though  he 
were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live,  and  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in 
me  shall  never  die."  To  this  an  inspired  Apostle  has  added  :  "If 
we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  even  so  them  also  which 
sleep  in  Jesus  shall  God  bring  with  Him."  u  When  Christ  who  is 
our  life  shall  appear,  we  shall  also  appear  with  Him  in  glory." 
"Wherefore,  comfort  one  another  with  these  words."  And  what 
else,  brethren,  can  we  need  to  dispel  our  fears,  to  sustain  our  hopes, 
and  to  comfort  our  hearts,  in  view  of  the  ravages  of  death,  than 
these  blessed  assurances,  that  the  soul  is  above  his  power,  and  shall, 
if  purified  by  repentance  and  sanctified  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Re- 
deemer, be  ere  long  united  again  to  the  body,  to  receive  with  it 
' '  its  perfect  consummation  and  bliss  in  God's  eternal  and  everlast- 
ing glory."  And  with  what  confidence  may  we  not  hope  that  this 
blessedness  shall  be  the  portion  of  our  departed  brother  ?  He  lived 
the  life,  he  died  the  death,  and,  therefore,  shall  undoubtedly  par- 
take of  the  everlasting  happiness  of  the  righteous. 

In  common  instances  of  mortality,  to  notice  with  any  degree  of 


particularity,  the  personal  character  of  the  deceased  is  (as  you  are 
aware,  my  brethren,)  foreign  to  my  practice  ;  and  such  notices  may 
in  general,  it  is  apprehended,  be  justly  suspected  of  flattery  to  the 
living.  But  in  the  present  instance  I  should  violate  your  feelings,  do 
injustice  to  my  own,  and  neglect  a  sacred  duty  to  religion,  were  I  not 
to  attempt  some  commemoration  of  the  virtues  of  him  whom  we  have 
lost.  And  in  proceeding  to  discharge  this  omce,  my  appreheusion 
is,  that  I  shall  incur  your  censure,  not  for  saying  too  much,  but  for 
omitting  much  that  should-  be  said  ; — for  memory,  which,  when 
prompted  by  affection,  loves  to  linger  in  the  contemplation  of  de- 
parted excellence,  will  point  you  to  very  many  traits  deserving  a 
distinct  notice,  which  it  is  impossible  to  embrace  in  the  hasty  and 
imperfect  sketch  which  I  am  about  to  give  of  his  character.* 

The  last  and  most  enduring  recollections  which  are  left  upon  my 
mind  of  him  whom  we  have  lost,  are  of  his  expressions  of  deep 
religious  feeling,  and  of  those  strong  but  humble  hopes  which  are 
now  changed  to  certainty.  These  recollections  connect  themselves 
at  once  with  all  that  I  know  of  his  character  and  life.  Dr.  Wright 
was  a  religious  man  in  the  high  and  true  sense  of  the  words  ;  and 
to  say  that  one  is  truly  a  religious  man,  is  to  say  that  he  compre- 
hends and  feels  those  relations  by  which,  and  by  which  alone,  our 
nature  is  ennobled  ;  that  all  which  is  most  glorious  and  exalting  in 
our  conceptions  of  infinity  and  eternity  has  become  to  him  a  matter 
of  habitual  belief;  that  he  knows  himself  to  be  the  creature  of 
(rod,   holding  a   rank  in  the  universe  immeasurably   higher  than 

*  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Wright  vi  on  the  17th  of  January.  1800.  in  the  town 

of  Wilmington  where  he  resided  during  his  entire  lite.  When  prepar  d  tor 
College  he  enter*  <l  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  and  graduated  there  in 
1820.  After  his  graduation  he  studied  medicine  and  practised  his  proferc-io  1 
for  several  years,  but  not  finding  it  congenial  with  his  ta  tes  it  was  abandoned. 
In  January.  1842,  he  was  elected  Cashier  of  the  Hank  of  Cape  F<  ar.  which 
office  he  held  until  May,  1847.  when  he  was  made  Presid<  nt  of  that  instilu- 
tion,  and  continued  to  occupy  that  position  to  the  period  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  21st  September.  1861. 


6 

what  the  mere  man  of  this  world  can  imagine,  and  that  he   is  un- 
der the  uniform  control  of  expectations  and  motives,  the  tenden- 
cy of  which  is  to  raise  him  above  all  vulgar  and  selfish   feelings, 
and  to  invigorate  all  that  are  pure  and  generous.     The  religion  of 
him  whom  we  mourn  was  not  of  that  spurious  kind  which  borrows 
its  heat  from  the  meaner  passions.     They  furnished  no  fuel  for  its 
support.     It  burnt  clear  and  steadily  upon  the  altar  of  his  heart, 
and  the  temple  within  was  filled  with  its  fragrance.     His  religion 
was  the  controlling  principle  of  his  life.     It  manifested  itself  as  it 
always  does  when  it  thoroughly  pervades  and  forms  the  character, 
not  in  artificial  exhibitions  for  the  view  of  mankind,  not  unseasona- 
bly and  impertinently,  but  in  that  natural  recurrence  to  its  motives 
and  sanctions,    which  appears  whenever  the  occasion  demands  it, 
in  the  conduct  and  conversation  of  sincere  and  devout  disciples  of 
Christ.     He  was  baptized  in  infancy  at  the  altar  of  this  Parish,  and 
is  believed  to  have  been  early  religiously  impressed.     In  the  open- 
ing years  of  maturing  manhood  he  made  here  a  profession  of  his 
christian  faith ;  an4  how  strong  were  the  ties  which  bound  him  to 
this  church  of  his  fathers — how  zealous  he  was  for  its  honor,  its 
peace  and  its  prosperity,  and  how  ready  to  aid  in  every  good  work 
in  which  it  engaged,  is  fully  known  and  justly  appreciated  by  you. 
It  is,  in  my  apprehension,  no  exaggeration  to  say,  that  but  for  his 
wise  counsels,  his  munificence,  his  untiring  energy  and  persever- 
ance, coming  in  aid  of  your  own,  the  two  sacred  edifices  which  have 
been  erected  in  this  town  for  the  use  of  our  communion  since  I 
commenced  my  ministry  among  you,  would  never  have  been  reared. 
As  a  Vestryman  and  Warden  of  this  Parish,  and  for  many  years 
its  chief  financial  agent,  no  man  could  have  been  more  untiring  or 
more  efficient  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  ;  while  his  services  in 
the  Diocesan  and  general  Conventions  of  the  Church,  and  as  a 
member  of  her  Board  of  Missions,  made  him  always  a  welcome 


and  highly  valued  member  of  those  bodies.  0,  may  the  remem- 
brance of  his  love  for  the  Church,  and  his  zeal  to  advance  her 
interests,  while  it  awakens  our  gratitude,  stimulate  us  to  imitate 
his  example. 

All  the  institutions  of  religion  commanded  the  highest  esteem 
and  reverence  of  our  departed  friend.  He  loved  the  house,  he 
loved  the  people,  he  loved  the  ministers  of  God.  Regarding  the 
public  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  as  divinely  appointed  means  of 
salvation,  and  sensible,  from  experience,  of  their  holy  efficacy,  he 
felt  it  to  be  his  happiness,  no  less  than  his  duty  to  encourage,  and 
aB  often  as  he  had  opportunity,  to  unite  in  their  celebration. 

The  worship  of  the  Church  in  particular  afforded  him  the  highest 
satisfaction ;  and  never  (he  has  been  heard  to  say)  did  his  spirit 
know  such  heavenly  peace  and  serenity  as  when  prostrate  in  this 
sacred  temple  he  poured  forth  his  devout  emotions  in  the  animating 
strains  of  our  admirable  Liturgy. 

His  charity  was  as  sincere  and  ardent  as  his  piety.  Though  firm- 
ly attached  to  the  distinctive  principles  of  our  Communion,  from  a 
deliberate  conviction  that  they  are  primitive  and  scriptural,  yet, 
kindly  overlooking  what  he  deemed  the  errors  of  others,  he  cordi- 
ally embrace  1  in  the  arms  of  affection  the  christian  of  every  name, 
in  whose  temper  and  conduct  he  found  the  image  of  his  Redeemer, 

The  same  benign  principle  inspired  him  with  universal  good  will, 
and  excited  in  his  bosom  a  lively  concern  for  the  welfare  of  man- 
kind, Every  benevolent  object  found  hisheart  alive  to  its  interests, 
and  his  hand  open  to  further  its  advancement.  He  was  emphati- 
cally a  man  of  active  beneficence  and  usefulness.  Though  he  felt, 
in  all  their  strength  and  tenderness,  the  ties  of  domestic  life,  he 
did  not  confine  his  sympathies  within  the  narrow  circle  of  family 
and  kindred.  He  was  public  spirited  in  his  beneficence,  and  his 
pnblic  spirit  had  its  foundation  in  christian  faith  and  charity,     It 


had  th.  steadiness  ■(  principle  and  the  warmth  «»f  impulse.  Bought 
with  a  price,  he  felt  that  nothing  which  he  possessed  -neither  his 
time,  nor  his  talents,  nor  his  wealth  were  his  own,  but  might  justly 
be  claimed  by  Him  through  whose  precious  blood  he  had  redemp- 
tion. In  the  use  of  them,  therefore,  it  was  his  aim  to  act  as  the 
steward  of  the  Great  Giver, — and  hence  there  was  no  good  cause, 
no  holy  and  benevolent  enterprise  by  which  suffering  could  be  re- 
lieved, and  misfortune  alleviated',  and  human  hearts  made  virtuous 
and  happy,  which  he  was  not  ready  to  aid. 

In  whatever  point  of  light  the  character  of  our  departed  friend 
is  viewed,  we  shall  see  much  to  admire,  to  commend  and  to  imitate. 
Though  in  his  deportment  and  manners  he  had  all  the  gentleness 
of  a  woman,  he  was  yet  a  man  of  marked  decision  and  energy  of 
character.  At  the  same  time  he  was  far  removed  from  the  obsti- 
nacy of  the  self-opinionated.  If  his  quickness  of  thought  and 
feeling  sometimes  led  him  to  a  hasty  opinion  or  judgment,  he  was 
ever  open  to  conviction  ;  ready  to  hear  with  respectful  consideration 
whatever  could  be  presented  on  the  other  side;  and  instances  are 
not  wanting  in  the  experience  of  individuals,  in  which,  with  that 
genuine  consistency  which  seeks  only  light  and  truth,  and  that  hu- 
mility which  exalts  and  dignifies  the  character  it  adorns,  he  has 
changed  his  opinions  at  the  counsel,  or  the  suggestion  of  others. — 
Rarely,  however,  was  there  occasion  for  this.  With  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  power,  and  an  enlightened  and  firmly  established  moral 
principle  to  guide  its  rapid  and  vigorous  action,  his  judgment  almost 
instinctively  embraced  the  noble  and  generous  side  of  every  ques- 
tion ;  while  his  freedom  from  everything  like  guile,  his  honesty  in 
the  formation  and  his  manly  independence  in  the  expression  of  his 
opinions,  gave  him  no  small  share  of  influence  with  this  community 
in  all  matters  of  public  interest  and  importance. 

I  believe  if  those  who  knew  him  best  were  called  upon  to  men- 


tion  any  one  virtue  by  which  he  was  particularly  distinguished ,  they 
would  unite  in  naming  integrity.  Dr.  Wright  was  a  man  who,  if 
any  ever  could,  might  have  told  the  world  his  motives  and  have 
risen  in  their  respect.  If  you  were  to  determine  whether  he  would 
pursue  any  particular  course  of  conduct,  or  aim  at  any  particular 
object,  you  had  only  to  determine  whether  he  would  think  that  ob- 
ject right,  or  that  course  of  conduct  his  duty,  and  you  were  sure 
that  no  selfish  or  mean  passion.,  and  no  sinister  purpose  would 
interfere  to  lead  insensibly  his  judgment  astray.  You  knew  and 
felt  that  you  could  rely  in  perfect  security  upon  his  truth,  his  sin- 
cerity and  openness.  There  were  no  false  appearances  about  him. 
He  had  nothing  of  that  disguise  and  cunning  which  is  sometimes 
mistaken  for  policy.  His  conduct  lay  before  you  in  the  broad  day- 
light, and  you  never  were  at  a  loss  for  his  motives,  and  you  never 
perceived  any  but  what  were  honorable.  I  know  the  force  of  the 
language  I  am  using.  It  is  the  last  occasion  on  which  I  should 
suffer  myself  to  indulge  in  idle  and  unfounded  praise.  It  is  an  oc- 
casion, to  me,  far  too  solemn  and  painful.  I  speak  of  my  departed 
friend  with  the  truth,  which  I  know  he  loved.  If  it  were  possible 
I  should  not.  his  image,  which  is  continually  recurring  to  me,  would 
bring  admonition  and  shame  along  with  it. 

Yet,  with  all  the  virtues  that  I  have  named,  and  all  the  good 
works  that  adorned  his  life,  I  am  persuaded  that  humility  was 
the  crowning  disposition  of  his  soul.  Every  claim  on  account  of 
personal  merit  which  presumption  could  assert,  or  vanity  urge,  he 
surrendered  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  All  his  efforts  to  promote  the 
honor  of  God  and  the  welfare  of  men  he  considered  as  required  by 
his  duty,  and  even  after  all,  he  felt  that  be  was  an  unprofitable  ser- 
vant. Hence  his  whole  hope,  not  only  for  reward  but  for  accept- 
ance with  God,  was  reposed  entirely  and  exclusively  upon  the  merits 
of  the  Redeemer,  apprehended  by  a  firm  but  humble  faith.     To 


10 

this  he  clung  with  all  the  powers  of  his  soul,  which  perpetually 
breathed  the  self-abasing  sentiment :  * '  Not  unto  me — not  unto  me, 
0  Lord,  but  unto  thy  name  be  all  the  glory."  This  self-abasement 
was  the  result,  not  simply  of  a  consciousness  that  his  services  were 
imperfect,  and  would  not,  though  they  were  free  from  defect,  be  of 
any  value  in  the  sight  of  God,  but  of  a  deep  sense  of  un worthiness, 
a  strong  and  lively  conviction  of  the  utter  corruption  of  our  nature, 
and  consequently  that  every  thing  that  was  good,  either  in  his  heart 
or  life,  was  the  fruit  of  God's  powerful  grace.  Abundant  indeed 
was  his  life  in  that  blessed  fruit.  And  as  a  consequence,  the  reli- 
gion which  had  been  his  guide  through  life,  did  not  fail  him  as  a 
support  and  consolation  in  the  hour  of  death.  Many  wearisome 
days  and  nights  had  been  appointed  him ;  but  through  all  he  bowed 
in  quiet  and  calm  submission  to  the  will  of  God ;  and  when  the  final 
hour  came,  and  nature  sank  under  the  power  of  disease  and  infir- 
mity, he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  in  the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality. 

"  His  spirit  with  a  bound, 

Left  its  incumbering  clay  ; 
His  tent  at  sunrise  on  the  ground, 

A  darkened  ruin  lay. 

The  pains  of  death  are  past, 

Labor  and  sorrow  cease  ; 
And  life's  stern  warfare  closed  at  last, 

His  soul  is  found  in  peace. 

Soldier  of  Christ,  well  done  ! 

Praise  be  thy  new  employ, 
And  while  eternal  ages  run, 

Rest  in  thy  Savior's  joy !" 

Brethren,  as  the  life  and  character  of  such  a  man  are  a  blessing 
and  beneSt  to  the  community,  his  death  is  felt  to  be  a  common  loss. 
We  presume  not  in  these  public  services  to  enter  the  sacred  enclo- 
sure of  private  and  domestic  sorrow,  farther  than  to  express,  as  I 
am  confident  I  may,  in  your  behalf  and  my  own,  our  deep  and  ten- 


11 

der  sympathy  with  those  who  have  lost  a  husband,  a  father,  a 
brother,  and  an  endeared  relation.  For  ourselves,  we  mourn  the 
loss  of  a  valued  friend  and  fellow  worshipper.  We  grieve  that  his 
venerable  form  will  no  more  be  seen  in  this  sacred  temple,  or  his 
words  of  counsel  be  heard  in  our  assemblies.  Let  his  death,  my 
friends,  speak  to  our  consciences  of  duty  and  of  preparation.  Who 
of  us  will  not  listen  to  the  silent  and  impressive  lesson  before  us. 
It  will  be  in  vain  for  us  to  contemplate  such  a  character  as  we  have 
been  now  regarding,  if  we  do  not  feel  that  its  foundation  was  in 
that  religion  which  teaches  every  one  of  us  to  regard  himself  as 
created  by  God  to  be  an  image  of  his  own  eternity.  It  will  be  in 
vain  for  us  to  stand  by  the  grave  of  departed  worth,  if  no  earthly 
passion  grows  cool,  and  no  holy  purpose  gains  strength.  Prepare 
to  follow  and  meet  thy  God,  is  the  voice  of  Providence  in  death  to 
every  surviving  relative  and  friend.  Let  us,  then,  lay  to  heart  the 
lessons  of  this  solemn  occasion,  and  let  them  stimulate  us  in  our 
work  of  preparation  for  the  eternity  that  awaits  us.  To  be  happy  in 
that  eternity  is  all  that  is  worthy  of  the  ardor  of  our  immortal  souls. 
Nothing  that  is  greatly  valuable  is  to  be  found  here.  The  true  and 
durable  riches  must  be  sought  for  in  the  paths  of  piety  and  virtue,  and 
secured  in  the  regions  above.  To  those  regions  then  let  us  transfer 
our  treasures,  that  our  hearts  may  be  there  also.  Thus  we  shall  be  fol- 
lowers of  them  who  through  faith  and  patience  inherit  the  promises. 
Our  lives  will  be  those  of  the  righteous.  The  footprints  of  utility  will 
mark  the  way  that  we  have  traveled.  And  when  we  die — as  in  the 
case  of  our  departed  brother — ' '  there  shall  be  tears  on  the  cheek  of 
innocence,  and  sighs  from  the  bosom  of  virtue  ;  the  young  shall  wish 
to  resemble,  and  the  old  shall  lament  us,"  and  He,  who  is  the  judge 
of  the  quick  and  the  dead,  shall  receive  us  into  his  heavenly  man- 
sions. Which,  may  God  grant  to  us  all,  for  His  sake  who  died  for 
us  all,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 


